Shoulder ornament mounting means



June 27, 1939. P. A. MERRIGAN SHOULDER ORNAMENT MOUNTING MEANS Filed Feb. 21, 1938 FIGLZ FIG.5

PETER A. MERRIGAN 2% r&

ATTORNEYS Patented June 27, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in shoulder knots and the like for military uniforms, and more especially to improvements in fastening means for attaching such shoulder knots to said uniforms.

In uniforms having shoulder knots and the like, it is customary to directly attach the knot, as for example by sewing or stitching, to a backing strip of fabric material. A strap of the same material is then secured to the backing strip for holding the knot in position on the shoulder. The backing strip and strap are ordinarily formed of the same colored material as the uniform; hence, it will be seen that in organizations where a plurality 5 of different colored uniforms are used it would normally be necessary to provide a set of shoulder knots for each uniform in which the backing strip and strap harmonize with the color of the uniform. This is disadvantageous in view of the relatively high cost of shoulder knots, which are ordinarily formed of gold cord.

By means of the present invention the backing strip is eliminated and the strap is removably secured to the knot by the device herein set forth and described.

Another disadvantage of this type of shoulder knot mounting is that in order to launder or clean the strap associated with the knot, it is necessary to rip out the stitching and remove the knot from 0 the strap with resultant unnecessary, or at least useless, labor.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a novel type of shoulder knot mounting whereby the knot is removably attached to the strap and carried thereon, thereby permitting use of the knot with one of several straps and obviating the necessity of providing sets of shoulder knots for each differently colored uniform.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a mounting of the type hereinabove mentioned wherein the shoulder strap can be conveniently removed from association with the shoulder knot in the event that cleaning or laundering of the former is desirable.

It is also an object of the instant invention to provide a shoulder strap mounting means of the type referred to wherein the member associating knot and strap is substantially concealed from view in use.

Other objects, features and advantages of the improved shoulder knot mounting according to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art during the course of the following description.

Regarded in certain of its broader aspects, the

present invention comprises a guide member carried on and fixedly attached to the underside of a shoulder knot adapted to: receive and cooperate with portions of a shoulder strap.

In order to facilitate a fuller and more complete understanding of the matter of the present invention, the herein illustrated specific. embodiment thereof will be hereinafter described, it being clearly and expressly understood, however, that it is given solely by way of example and is non-limitative,

Referring, then, to the drawing- Fig. l is substantially a top plan view of the now preferred embodiment of the present inven tion;

Fig. 2 is: essentially a sectional view of Fig. 1 taken along the line 2--2; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the guide memher.

In the drawing the numeral H] is used to generally designate a shoulder knot, it being understood of course that other ornaments can be substituted for the shoulder knot if conditions indicate their desirability. A guide member generally designated at I i is substantially fixedly attached to the under portion of said shoulder knot and is adapted to receive a shoulder strap generally indicated at I2 whereby said knot can be supported on portions of the uniform.

Referring especially to Fig. 3, wherein details of the shoulder strap receiving means. and guide are best illustrated, it will be noted that the strap receiving member comprises a perforate, bar-like central member I 5 having perforated cross members I 6, I! and I8. The perforations, certain of which are designated at l9, are provided to facilitate stitching or attachment of the guide memher to the shoulder knot. The cross members l6, l1 and I8 are each formed with a spaced overlying essentially parallel member attached thereto and formed integral therewith, designated by the numerals 20, 2! and 22, respectively, whereby said members I6 and 20 in cooperation define an opening adapted to receive a strap, and similarly members l1 and 2| and I8 and 22 likewise define openings of the character mentioned.

In use, the member H is positioned adjacent the under portion of the shoulder knot and fastened thereto, as for example by stitching through the perforations l9 formed therein. It is to be noted that the central, bar-like member 15 is placed next adjacent the knot whereby the members 20, 2| and 22 project downwardly therefrom, substantially as shown in Fig. 2. A shoulder strap of the conventional type is threaded through the opening defined by the elements l8 and 22, through the opening defined by the elements I! and 2| and through the opening defined by the elements I6 and 20, passed around the member 2|] through a loop 25 attached to the uniform, a portion of which is designated at 26, back through the opening defined by the elements I! and 2|, over the member 22, and the free ends of the strap are substantially fixedly attached to a portion of the uniform by means including a stud 21 mounted on a portion 26 in the uniform and cooperating with a threaded button-like member 28, the stud passing through openings formed in the strap l2. Eyelets 29 are preferably provided around the openings formed in the strap l2 and adapted to receive threaded shank portion 30 of the button 28.

It will be apparent that when it is: desirable to use the shoulder knot with a uniform of different color, it is merely necessary to disengage the button 28 from the stud 21, remove the strap [2 from association therewith, unthread the strap l2 from the guide and mounting member I l, substitute an appropriate colored strap and assemble the various members on the diiferent uniforms, substantially as shown in Fig. 2 and. hereinabove described.

It is especially to be noted that in use the knot mounting means I2 is substantially concealed from view.

It is to be understood that this method of mounting shoulder ornaments is capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawing nor to the precise construction described and, therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therein as do not afiect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scopethereof as expressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Mounting means for shoulder ornaments, comprising a strap receiving member adapted to be carried on and substantially fixedly attached to said ornament, said member including a plurality of spaced, aligned, substantially parallel, flattened loops mounted on and formed integral with a connecting central member, a strap threaded through and around certain of said loops, and means for removably attaching said strap to a garment.

2. Mounting means for shoulder ornaments, comprising a strap receiving member adapted to be carried on and substantially fixedly attached to said ornament, said member including a plurality of spaced, aligned, substantially parallel, flattened loops mounted on and formed integral with a connecting central member, a strap threaded through and around certain of said loops, and means for removably attaching said strap to a garment including a strap-receiving loop and a stud mounted on said garment, said stud being receivable in openings formed in said strap.

PETER A. MERRIGAN. 

